<snipped>
Taunting claim of responsibility In a five-page e-mail claim sent to Al-Quds al-Arabi, Abu Hafs al-Masri said the brigade’s “death squad” had penetrated “one of the pillars of the crusade alliance, Spain.”
“This is part of settling old accounts with Spain, the crusader, and America’s ally in its war against Islam,” the claim said.
The statement taunted the prime minister, asking: “Aznar, where is America? Who will protect you, Britain, Japan, Italy and others from us?”
The message, which the newspaper faxed to The Associated Press office in Cairo, Egypt, also warned the United States that another major strike was approaching.
“We announce the good news for the Muslims in the world that the strike of the black wind of death, the expected strike against America, is now at its final stage — 90 percent ready — and it is coming soon, by God’s will,” the message said.
In Washington, White House spokesman Sean McCormack said, “We’ve seen the news reports, and we’re going to determine what the facts are.”
President Bush extended U.S. sympathies, saying, "I appreciate so very much the Spanish government’s fight against terror, their resolute stand against terrorist organizations.”
msnbc.msn.com -------------------------------------- I picked the wrong day to be away all day. yuck. |